In the past, I have been known to write letters to the editor questioning Mayor Thomas Lauzon and/or his motives. Well, hold on to your hats, because I’m writing today to say we are on the same side — at least when it comes to the upcoming Barre City and school budget votes.

As a member of the citizen-formed finance committee, along with Aimee Pope, Jeffrey Friot, Justin Johnson, John Hannigan and Linda Couture, I can assure you this budget was reviewed multiple times. I believe the budget being voted on is actually our sixth draft. Countless hours were put into making sure the needs we were hearing from friends and neighbors were addressed.

We were against adding additional police officers as we felt taxpayers were going to say “we can’t afford it,” and “we were right.” You made it clear on Town Meeting Day by defeating the budget as presented. We are at bare bones in this budget. There is nothing new added, and we even pushed City Manager Steve Mackenzie to keep finding savings.

I implore you to vote on Tuesday, May 14, and help the city of Barre move forward with the progress we see each day, by approving both the city and school budgets.